Google Maps broken?

They seem to be. Route lines disappear – then reappear (sometimes), somewhat scrambled… I’ve just checked on three different PCs – Win 7, XP and Ubuntu – no joy. Seems to be unable to cope with routes that lie off the roads and tracks known to, and marked on Gmaps. Oh dear. So to anyone trying to view my walk maps – sorry! Not my fault, nothing I can do about it except wait with fingers crossed.

Beech and pine

A brief exploration of a corner of Mortimer Forest we’d not visited before – Black Pool, just off the Richards Castle road. There’s only one waymarked walk starting from the car park – but others are encountered just a short way into the forest. May be worth a return visit, and a longer walk to take in Mary Knoll valley and High Vinnals.

Ashes Hollow to Pole Bank

I’d intended the walk to be circular – up Ashes Hollow to Pole Bank, returning by Callow Hollow, or possibly the ridge just to the south. But reality wasn’t as good as the forecast – the rain started half-way through lunch, and the clouds looked heavy and threatening. So I set off back down Ashes Hollow (at first down the shorter tributary that starts near Pole Cottage). Halfway down the hollow, the sky cleared and the sun came out again…

I’d seen the ledge path, above the stream on its south side, on the map. Perhaps it would provide a slightly different return route?
– it did. Clearly a made path, but used primarily by four-legged, woolly walkers. Not for the faint-hearted, but an interesting alternative with great views down into the Ashes Hollow.

Interlocking spurs   Hawthorn

Pole Bank and Stiperstones   After the rain

The path below   Rocky spur above the hollow

Dark clouds   Small Batch cottage